Determination
87
Minnesota
News Council
In the Matter of the Complaint of
Terrance Lappin against the Snoose News
Complainant, Terrance J. Lappin, appeared on his own
behalf. Editor Steve Eide of Snoose News, submitted an 11-page written
response to Lappin's complaint. The issue raised in this proceeding
is the fairness of an "editorial cartoon."
Background: The Snoose News is a monthly neighborhood
newspaper published on the West Bank in Minneapolis. According to
its masthead, the newspaper is "A Journal of News, Entertainment,
Opinion, & Advocacy."
In its July 1990 issue, on the opinions page, the
Snoose News published an editorial about gubernatorial candidate Arne
Carlson, two letters to the editor, and, at the bottom of the page,
an unsigned cartoon. The cartoon shows a weasel-like animal standing
upright and spray-painting the words "FLACK MAN" on a wall. Another
weasel character is shown saying, "Terry says don't ruin the neighborhood,
let me do it." The cartoon is captioned, "Terry Lap Dog, The Sleazy
Weasel."
It is undisputed the cartoon refers to grievant Terrance
J. Lappin and that this was so understood in the West Bank community.
Lappin is a West Bank resident and developer who had recently submitted
a proposal to renovate the Bailey Building located at Cedar and Riverside
avenues. Lappin's proposal was one of three submitted to the Cedar-Riverside
Project Area Committee (PAC) for its endorsement. Eventually, the
PAC's approval went to a competing developer, the West Bank Community
Development Corporation. This redevelopment project and the relative
merits of the three renovation proposals was of considerable public
interest and sparked much debate in the West Bank community.
Lappin claims the cartoon was unfair and defamatory
and should not have been anonymously published. The Snoose News claims
Lappin is a public figure in the community, that the cartoonist was
only expressing a personal opinion about Lappin's role in the community's
development plans, and that this was in keeping with the newspaper's
tradition of allowing "cantankerous and vociferous politicking and
disagreements." Lappin also claims that his letter to the editor protesting
the cartoon, sent in September, was not published in either the October
or November issues of the paper. The editor said the letter may be
published in an upcoming issue, space permitting.
Discussion: The Snoose News considers itself
as engaging in public service journalism. Within this context, it
seems to us that the cartoon comes within the bounds of robust political
debate that a free press may choose to report. Admittedly, the cartoon
is highly irreverent toward its subject, but the Snoose News, which
apparently thrives on controversy, chose to publish the cartoon, which
was its right.
The cartoon does not make, nor purport to make, a
factual statement. Rather, the cartoon is obviously expressing the
author's opinion, doing so through the use of epithets. Having chosen
to become involved in a development project which was of intense interest
to West Bank residents, Lappin should not have been surprised that
his involvement invited critical comment. The grievance must, therefore,
be denied.
Having said this, the News Council is troubled by
two aspects of this case. First, considering the sharp personal attack
on him, Lappin should have been afforded prompt access to the newspaper's
opinions page in order to respond with his side of the controversy.
This is only fair.
Secondly, we are troubled by the anonymous publication
of the cartoon. From its placement in the newspaper, it is unclear
to the reader whether the cartoon represents the views of the newspaper
or the personal views of a correspondent. The editor informs us the
cartoon was a kind of pictorial letter to the editor, representing
the personal views of the cartoonist. That should have been made clear.
We think, too, if an individual chooses to make such a biting personal
attack on another person, that individual should be willing to be
known. To hide behind a cloak of anonymity under these circumstances
seems, itself, a bit sleazy.
Grievance denied.
Concurring: Ashmore, Chucker, Flemming, Gilson,
Graham, Hilger, Johnson, King, Larson, Orwoll, Pennock, Simonett,
Stone, Sidin, Tanick, Warder
November 29, 1990
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Determination 88
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